Who we are
“Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats
The Upper Academy has one priority above all else: intentionally build great, post-secondary pathways for all scholars. We strive for this through teaching advanced, engaging lessons; fostering joy in safe, authentic classroom environments; and providing diverse learning opportunities such as extracurricular clubs, a growing athletic department, and college field trips. The UA has a growing Summer Programs and College Team dedicated to supporting students in obtaining enrichment opportunities and preparing them throughout the college application and entry processes – and we don’t wait, this all starts in 9th grade. We want our scholars to feel proud of themselves, confident in their growing interests and abilities, prepared to follow their fire and their next steps post-high school and into the world.
Portrait of a graduate
To be truly curious is to be compelled by the joy of learning. We see our classroom experiences as a launching point of our learning, not the endpoint. This causes us to push the boundaries of our learning environments so we can pursue unexplored knowledge. We find immense satisfaction in the discovery of new ideas and understandings, and we love to share them with the world.
Meet Ben Cruse, Chief of Schools & Acting Upper Academy Head of School
Principal Cruse is school leader and educational consultant with 15 years of experience in teaching and leadership. He started his career opening up Instituto Cultural Reinaldo Macchi in Paraguay. The school is currently grades 7-12 and sends 100% of their scholars to college, either in Paraguay or here in the US. He later joined Achievement First in Hartford, CT where he taught 7th grade History and was the Dean of School Culture. In 2013, he founded Achievement First Summit Middle School and was the Principal there for four years. He led the merge of that Middle School with a struggling Middle School in another part of the city, where he was able to merge distinct staffs, student-bodies, and communities into one unified and successful school. He later moved on to be the Principal of Achievement First Hartford High School, increased the AP enrollment and AP scores by double digits and the school was ranked #3 in the State of CT. In 2020, Ben joined Libertas Academy Charter School as the Chief of Schools where he led the turnaround of the organization from a school in the 6th percentile in the state to the 60th percentile. In 2023-24 - the Middle School was 2nd (ELA) and 5th (MATH) in the entire state of Massachusetts in Student Growth Percentile. In addition to his role at Libertas, Ben works as a consultant for Springpoint Schools that work with high schools around the country. Beyond his role in education, Ben is a proud father of two sons, Lukas and Giovanni, and loves to work out and play golf in his hometown of Hartford, CT. Ben holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Pennsylvania.
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
ADVANCED, ENGAGING LESSONS
We offer advanced placement (AP) and honors courses starting in 9th grade all the way through 12th grade. Access to AP and honors courses is paramount to rigorous learning and college preparation. High quality lessons and academic rigor is a cornerstone of our UA program.
SAFE, AUTHENTIC ENVIRONMENTS
Our program includes emphasis on thoughtful debate and articulation, social and emotional wellbeing, GPA initiatives, summer programming opportunities, and starting the college process in 9th grade.
WE WANT STUDENTS TO FEEL PRIDE
We celebrate ourselves and each other often with honors ceremonies, achievement breakfasts, and more! Students become leaders through student government, theater stage managers, and sports captains, to name a few. We create space for our kids to be kids - school dances, EOY carnivals, and Back-to-School BBQs!
College Access & Summer Programs
Summer Programs provide students with the opportunity to cultivate new interests, learn more about college and other post-secondary pathways, and explore potential career pathways. By participating in a summer experience, students gain skills and real life experiences that colleges and employers look for in applicants, including clear communication and critical thinking schools.
Each year, students will have the opportunity to qualify and select from a wide range of summer programs including competitive pre-college programs, internships in the local community, camps and other programs. Students will receive support and advising from the College and Career Office and will complete their program applications through the winter and spring, in order to secure an exciting and best-fit program. The Office is then available through the summer to provide continued support to students during their programs.
Our Results
4th
87% of Class of 2025 graduates are on-track to enroll in college, with 60% on a four-year track and 27% on a two-year track.
86%
75% of Upper Academy students took at least 1 AP course.
90%
Over 40% of students enrolled in the following courses passed their Advanced Placement (AP) exams: AP English Language, AP Literature, AP German, AP Seminar, and AP Government and Politics.